Hammer.



H. MALSGE.

EAMMER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 10, 1909.

955,524. Patented Apr. 19, 1910.

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6 I an we I! QFFIGE.

HERMAN MALSCH, OF LAKE GENEVA, WISCONSIN.

HAMMER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 19, 1910.

- Application filed August 10, 1909. Serial No. 512,146.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMAN MALSGH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lake Geneva, in the county of l/valworth and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Hammers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in hammers and like tools and more particularly to that class adapted to be used by stone and brick masons and my object is to provide means whereby a nail may be readily extracted when desired.

A further object is to provide means for holding a nail in engagement with the hammer whereby the nail may be started into the object into which it is to be driven by a blow from the hammer.

A further object is to provide a reinforced eye for the hammer and a still further object is to provide means for securing the handle in the eye of the hammer.

Other objects and advantages will be hereinafter referred to and more particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this application, Figure l is a top plan view of the hammer. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the hammer, and, Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view through the hammer, showing the manner of securing the hammer to the handle.

Referring to the drawings in which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, 1 indicates the hammer proper, which terminates at one end in a bit 2 and at its opposite end in a poll 3, which may be constructed in the usual or any preferred manner as best suited to the use of masonry work.

Extending vertically through the hammer l is an eye or opening 4, which terminates on the lower side of the hammer, in a socket 5, thereby providing an opening of considerable length, which tends to strengthen the handle 6 at its juncture with the hammer and by forming the inner wall of the eye convex in vertical cross section, the introduction of a wedge 7 into the upper end of the hammer after it is entered through the eye, will force the handle into close engagement with the wall of the eye and securely lock the hammer onto the handle and as the diameter of the eye is greater at its ends than at the center, longitudinal movement of the handle in the eye will be obviated.

In order to readily extract a nail, the bit portion of the hammer is provided at one of its edges with a lip 8, which is disposed at an angle to the longitudinal trend of the bit, while the bit proper is provided with a jaw 9, the inner edge of the lip and jaw converging at their inner ends and at a point within the face line of the bit, the under faces of the lip and jaw being preferably beveled to receive the tapered head of the nail and it will be readily seen that in view of the taper of the slit formed between the lip and jaw, nails of various diameters may be accommodated and by placing the nail extractor at this point, the strain incident to extracting the nail, will be directed against the wider portion of the hammer, thereby lessening the possibility of breaking the handle. It is also my desire to provide means for holding a nail in engagement with the hammer whereby a blow can be delivered thereon and a nail entered into the object into which it is to be driven and to this end, one outer wall of the socket 5 is provided with a recess 11, which recess extends from a point adjacent the lower edge of the socket to the upper edge of the hammer and in this recess is placed a spring plate 12, the upper end of said plate having a V-shaped notch 13, into which the nail head is to be introduced and as the plate is held under tension against the bottom of the recess, the head of the nail when properly positioned will be forced against the wall of the recess and the nail securely held extended at right angles to the face of the hammer and by delivering a blow with the hammer, the pointed end of the nail will be entered into the object into which it is to be driven and after being so entered, a downward pull on the hammer will remove the head from the notch in the plate when the nail may be driven inwardly the proper distance by the poll of the hammer.

The upper end of the plate 12 is preferably curved, as best shown in Fig. 4, the bowed portion thereof extending outwardly and the plate is held in the recess by means of lugs 14, which are preferably formed integral with the edge walls of the recess and extend over the plate and direct pressure on the bowed portion thereof, whereby the notched portion of the plate will be held under pressure against the face of the recess and by curving outwardly the upper ends of the plate, a nail or the like may be readily introduced between the plate and face of the recess.

It will thus be seen that I have provided means for readily extracting a nail or holding the same, while it is being entered into an object and by providing said holding means, the nail can be positioned at a greater heightthan would be possible by holding the nail with the fingers and it will be further seen that by placing the nail extracting mechanism in the position shown, the strain incident to extracting the nail will be directed against the wider portion of the hammer.

It will likewise be seen that the nail holding plate may be readily attached to the hammer and at a minimum expense and as the strain on the plate is infinitesimal, said holding device will be practically indestructible and further by placing the plate within the recess, the hammer may be readily placed in the usual form of pocket for carrying the same or removed therefrom without catching on the parts of the pocket or garment.

lVhat I claim is A hammer construction, comprising a hammer proper, said hammer having a recess in one face thereof, a resilient plate having a notch in one end thereof, said plate being received by said recess and curved outwardly at its free edge, and means for the retention of said plate in said recess formed of inwardly extending projections overlying said plate, said plate resting against said projections under spring pressure.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HERMAN MALSCH.

Witnesses:

LEWIS ULVE, E. W. JENKINS. 

